While 2013 will be a tough year for retailers due to the tepid economic recovery, a few in particular face a critical 12 months. Their experiences highlight the challenges facing store chains, from increasingly cautious consumers to fierce online competition.

As the world's largest online retailer, it's no surprise that its biggest fulfillment center in Phoenix, Arizona, is the size of 28 football fields.That's because it's their goal to have everything anyone wants at any time.

Amazon has 80 fulfillment centers in the world to handle all of its orders. . .